Underground conduit



Jan. 8, 1935.

H. W. PORTER El AL UNDERGROUND CONDUlT 4Sheets-Sheet l I Filed July 8, 1933 INVENTO S 9! 522% WP);

am 6" Borer? Jr- Jan. 8, 1935. H w P RTER H M 1,987,517

UNDERGROUND CONDUI T Filed July 8, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 8, 1935.-

H. w. PORTER El AL UNDERGROUND CONDUIT Filed July 8, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTO 2km GBoxewJ:

ATT NEY Jan. 8, 1935. H. w. PORTER ET AL UNDERGROUND CONDUI T Filed July 8. 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet Patented Jan. 8, 1935 11,987,517 I UNDERGROUND o'ONDUIT W.- Porter, Maplewood, N.-.J., and William 10. Boron, Jr., Greensboro, N,

PATENT OFFICE Application July"8 1933, Serial No. 679,512

' 13 Claims. (oust-v5)" This invention relates in'general to conduits and more particularly to underground'conduits for housing, protecting and insulating pipes which are used for example, for conductingsteani fromi a' central heating plant to different build ings'to be heated. V

Important objects of the invention are to 'pro vide a conduitof the character described comprising a plurality of difierent types of parts constructed and related so that duringassembly of the parts no interferenceshall occurbetween mechanics installing different parts of theiwork, and one group of mechanics may 'co'n' plet'efin stallation of one type of pa'rtsbefore another groupof mechanics begin their work installing other parts, and for accomplishing these results to provide a conduit comprising an approximately fiat monolithic or concrete base, pipe supports whichcan be set directly on said base,' side walls formed of hollowtilerlike blocks seton said base and embracing portions of said pipe supports to hold them in position, and approximately semicylindrical top or ceiling tile set upon said'side walls in bridging relation thereto, whereby said base can be setor poured atone time, said pipe supports then can be set onthe fiat top thereof after which the pipes can bev laid on said supports, said side wall blocks thereafter can beset on said base with said pipe, supports between them, and said top tile can be then set on said side walls to complete the conduit. j Another object of the invention is to' provide such'a conduit embodying a novel and improved construction 7 and combination of parts 'includ.. ing a plurality of sections of difierent types which can be easily made in different sizes with the sizes of one type complemental'to corresponding sizes of the other types, 'whereby underground conduits of many different sizes, or ca'pacities can be easily and quickly installedby proper combinations of said sections and the'sections can be kept in stock'readyfor use, In other words, one important object offour' invention is to provide a conduit having a base with afsubstantially flat top, separate side walls'formed of a plurality of identical sectionswhich'may be set end to end on said fiat top of the base so that the side walls may be independently erected on the base and spacedapart to make conduits of different widths as may be desired, and a top formed of tile sections set end to end upon the tops of the side walls in arched relation thereto, whereby by making the base, side wall sections and top sections of different sizes, conduits of different ca' pacities can be quickly installed. Y

' Further objects are to provide novel and improved means for supporting pipes which can be set directly upon and in simple abutting relation to the monolithic base and which have portions to be embedded in'the mortar joints betweenthe side tile to hold the pipe supports rigidlyagainst movement whereby the pipe supports can be eas ily and quickly set and the weight of the' pipes and supports shall be directly and wholly assumed by the monolithic base to relieve the side andtop tile from such weight; to provide such pipe sup-' ports having novel and improved features of construction including seats for pipe supporting shafts which arevertically adjustable to accommodate different sizes and relations of'pipes in the conduit, and to provide a novel and improved construction and combination of such a base and pipe supports wherein'said base and pipe 'supports have cooperating parts by which thepipe supports can be easily and quickly setand alined with each other on the base without the necessity'for special measurements or alining' operations; Another object is to provide an underground conduit of the character described embodying novel and improved features of construction whereby ground water shall be quickly drained away from the top and side walls of the conduit, seepage of water into the conduit shallbe kept to the minimum without the necessity for extra drains, crush rock or gravel fills, etc.,' around-the conduit, and any water within the conduit shall be quickly drained away at the'botom of the conduit. i I

Other objects are to provide novel and improved trapezoidal hollow side wall tile to provide stable supports for the top tile and for draining off seepage'water at the sides of the conduit;'

toprovide novel and improved top tile which are semi-circular tile pipe sections and have air channels of novel form therethrough, so that the tile shall be light in weight, strong, and shall have good inherent heat insulating qualities; to pro vide top tile whereby novel and improved joints shall be possible between adjacent top tile and between the top tile and side tile to mechanically interlock said tile together and retard infiltration of moisture through the joints; to provide anovel and improved construction and combination of side tile and interior partitionjplate's whereby the partition plates can be easily, quickly, separably, and. adjustably mounted on the side tile between the monolithic base and the pipes to divide the conduit into a lower drain chamber andan upper pipe containing an insulating chamber and to facilitate drainage of moisture from the upper chamber to the lower chamber; and to obtain other advantages and results as will be brought out by the following description.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which corresponding and like parts are designated by the same reference characters throughout the several views,

Figure 1.is a sectional perspective view of an underground conduit embodying our invention.

Figure 2"is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view through the conduit.

Figure 3 is an end elevation of a tile pipe from which the top sections of our conduitiarelffl med.

Figure 4 is a perspectiveview of thetile pipe shown in Figure 3 split intotwo half sections Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevationjparsection "for our tially in section of the conduit on approximately the scale shown inFigure .1,.illustrating,anfprm ofjointbetw eenthe top tile. sections. V .fiigurefi is a -,.perspective.viewf of oneiofflthe side :tile sections. I f a Figure '7 is .a-perspectiveyiew of -.one..o'f .the pipe.supporting-standards, vie'wingfthe samefrom theafront thereof. a

.FigureB -is-.a--'similar View of therear- -ofithe standard. l I .Figure :9 is a view .similarto Eigure. 7- .with theshaft supporting brackets .removed from the standardand I .Figure 104s a composite perspective jviewnof one of .the' shafts and pipesupporting roller which cooperates therewith. rspecifically describing the-invention,.ounccnduit includesa base A which .is ,preferably= monolithicrand formed of :cementitious material such as aconcrete :-so 1 that the base .canbe formed at the situs .of the ;conduit. {ll-he. base preferably has --a -substantia1ly flat. top- 1,.-and-. az-longitudinal draincha-nnel or-' utter.- 2 alongapproximatelythe longitudinal median line of the base. Side walls Bware 'SGtfUPOII'EhBftOD [lof :the baserandsupport a tpp or. -roof-C which isein arched relation to. the sidewalls. Within the conduit are arranged supports-D for supportingpipes or thalike l 'jlhe side :walls :B are formed ofbloc kp-se ctions which are preferablyhollowqtile 3, approximate: 1y trapezoidal in cross section and (having .longitudinal ;.openin gs :4 "theretl'i-roug-h, to; form hollow side walls :for the conduit; These :tile sections Stare set; upon ;the top of I the base .1 .rin end to end relation to each other with the wider softhe parallel :sides resting on the base and with the openings -;4 disposed in alinement longitudinally of-athe conduit. iEach tile section-has at the .side

'thereof:which isdisposed inwardly of-theconduit a gplurality -'of longitudinal ledges ,5 -.parallel-and adjacent to :the wider of the twolpar allel sides of ?thesection: for cooperating with the wcorre spending "ledges ;on. the opposite -:tile sections l .to support a horizontal; partition .51 which divides lar in cross section as clearly shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. Also, preferably, longitudinal openings are provided in the walls of the sections between adjacent channels 7 for a purpose hereinafter described. These tile sections are set upon the tops 8 of the side wall sections 3 in end to end relation to each other with the channels 7 and openings '70 of adjacent sections in inement ion itudi ypf the. c nd t Sections of this characterfsmay bI gforined as illustrated in Figures 3"and 4 of the drawings ,.by making a tile pipe with the longitudinal channels 7 and weakening the walls of the pipe in a diametraliplane as indicated by the longitudinal scorings 9 in Figure 3, and then splitting the ;pipe."al o1 rg::said-'weakened portions as shown in *Figure '4. Preferably the scorings 9 are arranged itransverselytof .twoiof the channels 7 so that whenthe pipe is split into two sections as shown irrFigure 4,"each section has a longitudinal groove 10in each edge thereof. .7 .With this construction, when;the--. sections-.. are .set upon: the side walls, the :grooves .10 receive. some of the mortar .of the joint .60 between the top sections and side; sec-.- tions-to provide a key between .the sectionsfand to retard seepageof moisture through thejoint. Also, preferably, .one end of each sectio'n has an exterior .beveled surface all Lintersecting said channels .and. openings .so .that when said end of thesectionis arranged in end toend and alined relation with'flonelend Qof .the othe'rl section as shown-4n ,iagnre: 5 .a wide clearance for the application of .mortar (into .the joint .is provided. and the mortar willleasilyuflowinto the ,ends of the longitudinal. .channels ,7 .and openings .70 so as .to .provide.,a.mortar-.key 12 between thelsec; tionsias .well as .aatortuous, passage for water. through the ,joint. The', mortar also. closes the ends. of thechannelsfl and .openings 'lol so. as-to provide ...closed .,air spaces to' enhance .the heat insulatinggualities .of Lthe .tile. 1 QThe :openings 10 alsmcompensate [for eiipansi'on .and contraction of. the material betweenthe hannels"'Ttoreduce possibilityl of fraeture. of Lthesectioh and without unduly. weakeningthewa'llspf. the sections. This structure .eliminates ,the .usual v.bell andflspigot joint'yand providesa .smooth..outer surface for the topoftheconduit so that. resented, till-atro tar joint L12 may be,.protected-aga'inst seepage of moisture .therethrough v by ,asuitable covering 13 of waterproofm'aterial ass'hown in .Figurefi. Obviously, the (sections ',6 ,;need {not begprcyided with .the. enterionbevel -1'1 .-..and .the.- en ds of the Sections may-besquare. j V

. .Anothenimportant :feature. of our {inventionis the meansifonsupporting pipes .o'rtheJike within the conduit. 'fThis means .is..shown ingdetailin Figures ffhto .10. .inclusiveand includes a; standard 21-1,to Lb.e. ,disPo'sed'-.at -,each-.side{.o f. the. conduit .in opposed relation to .andther gsimilar standard. Eachs'tandardhas .a. foot 22; .to rest o n -the. base l o f theconduitgan upstanding armza and .a wing or .webl2g1 .Lwhich ",DI'DjQCtS. f-rom. ,the rear side-.of the ,arm .23. .Ihis wing-flor.;-web'.24 ..is--.of such dimensions=as itolbereceived. in the j oint,between the sends .of -.adjacent ,tile sections 3 and the standards,.23 preferablyslightly; incline ,with re; spect. to' the .feet .22 .so .as-v ,to nicely; abuttingly engage the inner 'sidesofthe respective. sidewalls. Each .foot.22 has. depending; lugs, 25 to abuttingly engage the upper portions of the side ,walls or, the upper. edges of :the Ndrain channel,2 in the base .-A. Each upstanding -arm .21 has .longitudi nal channels 26. to, face the. channels in the op-.

posite standard, nd-shaft;supporting. braclgets 27 are slidably mounted in said channels. Each bracket. 27 has at one end a seat 28 to receive one end of a shaft 29, and at the other end has a leg 30 which rests in a seat 31 formed by bosses 32 projecting upwardly from the foot 22 in spaced relation to the bases of' the channels 26. The brackets 27 can be easily slid into and out of the channels 26 and the elevation of the seats 28 may be varied by cutting on: portions of the legs 30so that the brackets can be made of standard size and later out according to specifications of the particular conduit. Each shaft 22 has a roller 33 rotatably mounted thereon to support a pipe or the like E.

In constructing a conduit in accordance with our invention the base A is first poured in the bottom of the ditch in which the conduit is to be laid, the drain channel being molded into the top of the base. After the concrete has hardened the pipe supports are set upon the top 1 of the base in the desired spaced relation. The feet 22' are simply set upon the top of the base with the lugs overhanging the edges of the drain channel'and in abutting relation to the sides thereof In this way the standards are easily and quickly alined with each other along the edges of the drain channel. The brackets 2'7 are then adjusted to the proper elevations, after which the shafts 29 are mounted in the brackets and the pipes E may there be laid on the rollers 33. The side walltiles 3 are then set by joints 35 on the top 1 of the base at opposite sides of the drain channel 2 in end to end relation to each other with the horizontal openings 4 in alinement longitudinally of the conduit. Ifv

necessary, the standards 23 of the pipe supports maybe adjusted to locate them between the ends of adjacent side tile 3, and the webs 24 of the standards are embedded in the joints 36 between the side'tile; and, of course, the side tile are preferably set in contacting relation with the standards 23.

Then the top tiles 6 are set upon the tops of the side tile 3 with the mortar joints 60 between the edges of the top sections 6, and the joints 12 between the ends of the top sections.

With this construction; it will be observed that the various sections of the conduit may be separately and independently erected or installed, and that the pipe supports and pipes may be set and laid directly on the fiat top of the base without any interference from upstanding projections such asare encountered in conduits formed of two half sections of tile pipe with the pipe supports laid in the lower section. Therefore, there need be no interference between the various groups'of workmen performing the difierent operations necessary in constructing the conduit, and one portion of the job can be completed before the next portion is started.

It will also be observed that the side tile, top tile and pipe supports can be made in various complemental sizes and that the base A may be made of any desired size so that conduits of widely different sizes or capacity can be easily and quickly installed by various combinations of the sections. For example, the height of the conduit can be varied by using taller side sections, while the width of the conduit can be varied by using wider top sections on a wider base, and both the width and height of the conduit can be increased by utilizing taller side sections, wider top sections and wider bases. Sections of the various sizes can thus be kept in stock and combined for different jobs as desired.

- insulating material.

I Obviously'the partitions'51'will be laid after the side tiles 3 are set, and the pipe containing a chamber above the partitions maybe filled with suitable heat insulating material when'desired.

The upwardly converging sides of trapezoidal side tile 3 outside and inside of the conduit tend to facilitatev draining of exterior water away from the conduit and conduct interior moisture rapidly downwardly to the draining channel 2, respectively, and special fillings of crushed-rock, gravel, etc. and extra outside drain pipes to facilitate drainage are not required. All moisture within the conduit is quickly conducted to the drain gutter 2 at the bottom of the conduit, and this drain gutter canvbe interrupted atintervals by manholes and runoff drains for carrying the water to some suitable outlet. Furthermore, the hollow structure of the side tiles with'the longitudinal channelsserve as secondary drain channels for carrying off any moisturewhich may seep through the joints between the side tile, and said tiles also have high heat insulating qualities due to air in the chambers 4. The partition 51 fully protectsthe insulating material above it from moisture in thebottom of the conduit and prevents the drain channel from becoming clogged with the The longitudinal channels in the top and side sections enhance the'heatinsulating qualities of the conduit sections due to the confinement of air within the channels.

The pipe supports rest directly upon the base A so that no strains from the weight of the pipe supports or pipes are imposed upon the side walls or top of the conduit, and various sizes of the pipe supports may be utilized as required, while the elevations of the pipe supporting shafts may be varied as required by cutting off the legs of the brackets.

In all forms, the side tile are preferably provided with-exterior grooves 50 inthe joint surfaces for providing a bond betweenthe tile and the mortar. I I

While we have shown our invention as embodied in certain details of construction it should be understood that this is primarily for the purpose of illustrating the principles of the invention and that many modifications and changes may be made. in the structure. of the ccnduit'without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is: i

1. An underground conduit comprising a monolithic base having an approximately fiat top, spaced and separate side walls formed of identical tile sections having substantially flat bottomsurfaces and set end to end on said fiat top of said base so'that the side walls may be independently erected on said base and spaced apart as desired, and a top formed of identical tile sections set end to end upon the tops of sai side walls in arched relation thereto.

2. The underground conduit set forth in claim 1 wherein said tile of the side walls are trapezoidal in cross-section and have the wider of their parallel sides set on the top of the said base. I

3. An underground conduit comprising a monolithic base having an approximately fiat top, spaced and separate side walls formed of identical tile sections having substantially fiat bottom surfaces and set end to end on said flat top of said base so that the side walls may be independently erected on said base and spaced apart as desired, said tile sections having longitudinal openings therethrough alined with each other 1ongitudinally of said .side .walls-to providedrainage and heat insulating channels, and a toprformed of identical tile sectionssemi-circular in crosssection havinglongitudinal openings therethrough andset end to end upon the tops of said side walls in arched .relation thereto with said longitudinal openings of one section in alinement withsaid openings of adjacent .sectionslongitudinally of the conduit.

4. The underground conduit-setforth in claim 1 wherein ;said top the sections :have longitudinal channels opening through the ends thereof and one end 'of one of 'two adjacent top tile sections has an exterior bevel surface intersecting .said channels to provide a spacefor mortar to enter between said sections 'and'into said channels, and Withthe addition of mortar in the joint between said adjacent tile sections extending into the ends of said longitudinal channels for interlocking the sections and locking the-mortar in the joint;

5. An underground conduit comprising .a base having an approximately flat top, side walls formed of block sections set end'to end on said top of the base, pipe supports-including bracket standards set on said top of the base-in abutting relation to said side walls and having portions embedded in the joints between said block sections, and shafts having their ends journaled in the oppositely disposed bracket standards," and a top "formed of sections set end to end on: said sidewalls. 4

6. An underground conduit comprising a base having an approximately fiat top, side walls formed of block sections set 'end to end on said top of the base, pipe supports set on said base andhaving .portionsembedded in the joints between the ends of said side wall block sections, and a top formed of sections setendto end'on said side walls, said basehaving'portions in predetermined alined arrangement, and said pipe supports having'parts to abuttingly engage said portions of said base for alining said supports/as they are set on the base.

7. An underground conduit comprising a'base having an approximately fflat atop, .side walls formed of block sections set end to end on said top of the base, pipe-supports set on said base and-having portions embedded'in'the joints between the ends. of said side wall :block; sections, and a top formed of sections set end to end on said side walls, said 'basehaving a drain channel in its top, the edges of which are parallel with said side 'Walls, and said pipe supports having parts to engage and overlie said edges of said channel whereby .said supports can be alined with each otheralong said edges of :the channel.

8. The conduit set forth in claim 5 wherein said base has a drain channelv in its top, the

edges of which are substantantially parallel 'to each other, and said bracket standards have :foot portions to rest on said base and formed with fiangestooverlie the edges ofsaid drainchannel whereby said supports can be alined with each other along said edge of the channel.

.9. The .underground conduitset forth in'claim 1 with the addition of pipe supportsset directly on said base in abutting relation to said side walls at joints between said tile of the side walls and having portions embedded in said joints.

10. The underground conduit set forth in claim 1 wherein said base has alongitudinal drain channel in its top and said side tile have longitudinal ledges on their inner sides, and with the addition of a horizontal partition separably mounted on said ledges above said drain channel todivide the conduit into an upper pipe receiving and insulating compartment and a lower drainage compartment.

11. -A pipe support for conduits comprising a pairof bearing standards having corresponding vertically disposed channels facing each other with seats at their lower ends, a bracket vertically slidable in each channel having a seat ..at its upper end to receive a shaft and a straight leg at its other end which fits said channel-seat, whereby said bracket can be adjusted to vary the elevation of 'said'seat by cutting off a portion of said leg, and a pipe supporting shaft mounted in said seats. 3

12. A pipe supporting unit for conduits, comprising a foot to rest upon a support, a standard projecting upwardly "from said foot and having a vertical channel in its face formed with a seat at its lower end, a bracket vertically slidable in said channel and having aseat at its upper end to receive a shaft and a straight leg at its other end to fit said channel'seat, and a wing projecting from the rear of said standard to enter a joint between wall blocks.

13. An underground conduit comprising a monolithic base having an approximately flat top, spaced and separate side walls formed of identical tile sections having substantially flat bottom surfaces and set end to end on said =fiat top of said'base so that the side walls maybe independently erected on said base and spaced apart asdesired, said tile sections having longitudinal openings therethrough alined with each other longitudinally of said sidewalls to provide drainage and heat insulating channels, and a topformed of identical tile sections setend to end upon the tops of said side walls in arched relation thereto. I

HARRY W. PORTER. WILLIAM QBOREN, JR. 

